Improvement in overshoes



l. I. MELLON.

Improvement in Ovefshoes.

No. 132,68l. Patented ot. 29,1872.I

STATES JOHN 1. MELLoN, or PANA, ILLINOIS.

lMPROVEMENT IN OVERSHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters vPatent No. 132,681, dated October 29, 1872.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN I. MELLON, of Pana, in the county of Christian and State of Illinois, have invented certain Improvements in Overshoes, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in an overshoe made to open at the side, and provided with an opening at the rearmost part of the sole to permit the passage therethrough of the heel of the boot or shoe usually worn under the overshoe, whereby the putting on of the overshoe is very much facilitated without detracting in any material degree from the warmth and protection derived from those of ordinary character. The invention also includes a strap so applied to the forward portion or toe of the overshoe so as to enable force to be much more advantageously applied in pulling the same off the corresponding part of the under boot or shoe than Y could otherwise be practicable. The invention also includes a novel means of retaining such strap in a snugly close position against the shoe l when not under manipulation, for the purpose 'closed' as when in actual use upon the foot.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the same as opened preliminary to placing the same upon the foot for use.

The overshoe may be of any ordinary or suitable material, and of any height, length, breadth, or conguration requisite or devised, as indicated in the drawing. At one side, and midway or thereabout of the ankle portion B, the overshoe is vertically'divided, the front flap a thus formed lapping over the back or opposite one, c, and furnished with straps b, which, in conjunction with buckles or buttons provided in suitable relation upon such back or opposite side or flap c, serve to close the opening when the overshoe has been placed in position for use, and to draw and retain the back 0f the shoe tight around the counter of the boot or shoework underneath, and at the same time draw the sole of the overshoe snugly up to the breast of the heel of the boot or shoe aforesaid. The sole C is cut away to form an opening, D, for thev outward passage or projection of the heel of the boot or shoe worn under the overshoe. Upon the extreme forward portion or toe of the latter, and on the upper surface thereof, is attached a strap, e, the rear end of which is free, and which `being grasped by the hand after the back of the shoe has been removed enables the overshoe to be pulled with the greatest facility and convenience from the corresponding part of the boot or shoe Worn underneath. That portion of the shoe adjacent to the free end of the strap e'being of more than one ply or thickness, the outermost ply has an eye or orifice formed in it to secure a hook, a', provided on the free end of the strap, said hook serving to retain the strap simply against the shoe when the latter is in ordinary use at the Side, as shown in Fig. 2, and hereinbefore set forth, is very readily pulled upon or over the front portion of the boot or shoe of the wearer,'the strap e being grasped by one hand, as

just explained, to facilitate the operation. A

This done it is only necessary to bring the rear portion or iiap c around back of the heel of the under boot or shoe, and buckle or bu tton7 as the case may be, to the strap b of the` other flap a, the heel of the under boot or shoe projecting and fitting snugly through the opening D. By this method of forming the overshoe its application to the foot with the greatest possible ease and convenience to the wearer is assured, at the same time that the whole of the under shoe or boot, except the heel, being covered, all the purposes of warmth and protection ordinarily sought in an overshoe are fully obtained.

What I claim as my invention isl. The strap e, attached to the upper forward portion of the overshoe, for the purpose of enabling the portion A to be conveniently and easily drawn off or on the corresponding part of the under boot or shoe, as the case may be, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The hook af, arranged upon the free end of the strap e, and in relation with an eye or orice formed in the adjacent portion of the overshoe, substantially as herein set forth.

. JOHN I. MELLON.

Witnesses J. O. THOMAS, R. M. HENDERSON. 

